Electric storage cell



Oct. 19 1926.

1,603,443 R. c. BENNER ELECTRIC STORAGE CELL Filed Jan. 13, 1923 Iuml!!! Patentedv Oct. 19, 192,6.

'\ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAYMOND C. BENNER, OF BAYSIDE, NEW YORK, .ASSIGN'OR TO THE PBEST-O-L-ITE COMPANY, INC., O F NEW YORK, N. Y., A. COBPORATIONOF NEW YORK.

ELEcrnrc Bronnen cam..

Application led January 18, 1923... .Serial No. 612,513.

This invention relates to storage cells of the type adapted for the operation of hand lamps, or the like. The invention resides in certain features of construction, including an electrode assembly readily removable as a unit from its casing, means for minimizing lthe likelihood of chargingthe cell while improperly positioned, an auxiliary contactcarrying cap adapted for removable attachment to the cell, and vother novel and'advan'- tageous arrangements.

The improved constructions will be described in detail in connection with the ac- Fig. 1 is a vertical central section through one embodiment of the invention, showing the end caps adjacent thevbody of the cell; D

Fig. 2 is a sectional illustration of the removable electrode assembly;

Fig. 3 is a artial sectional view of a cell of the type s own in Fig. 1, but having a modified form of bottom cap; and

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view of the improved cell provided with an auxiliary'.

contact carrying head.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotesa case of suitable insulating material, such for example as hard rubber or a phenolic condensation roduct, ada ted to withstand the action o the electro yte. Ferrules 2 and 3 are securedat the ends of the casing. A closure' is adapted for engagement with ferrule 2 and carries tubular vmetallic inserts 5 and 6 adapted vto receive lu s on electrodes 7 and 8, respectively.

he" electrodes may be formed of any suitable positive'and negative active material which may be supported by a plate or grid (not shown) in a manner wcll'understood 1n the art. An electrolyte absorbent 9 is placed about the electrodes. A composition com rising an absorptive organic material an a fibrous mineral material, such as that-described and 'claimed in my copending patent application Serial No. 552,834, filed April 11, 1922,'is preferably used as the absorbent. A perforated disc 9 is placed at the inner end of the electrodes to retain the absorbent rwhile permitting escape of gas.

The closure 4 may conveniently be constructed by molding a plastic insulating' material into' a block 10 surrounding the tubular inserts 5 and 6 and receiving a flange 11 on a threaded ring 12. The ange 11 is preferablyy loosely,y held in the recess 11 'in block 10, so that the block will not rotate with ring 12 but will be moved irectly inward when the ring is tightened.

I he block forced in this manner i against gasket 12 makes a tight joint with the casingl. L A

When the cell is to be used in liashlight Operation, a metal plate 13 is set in the surface ofblock 10 and vin circuit withone of the electrodes (8)- Upon inserting the cell in the usuall flashlight casing, the inner terminal of the lamp bulb will make contact with plate 13, and through this with tube 6 and electrode 8. A conductor `strip 14 is in contact with the other electrode, 7, and extends longitndinallA of the cell to engage ferrule 3, which' a ords 'a metallic contact atthe end ofthe cell remote from the lamp.

`A metallic cap 15 is threaded to engage errule 3, and contains a gasket 15` to insure an effective seal with the casing `when vthe ca'p is placed in position.

It will be noted that there are exposed metallic contacts of opposite polarit at each end of the cell, and that it'may t ere fore be used in flashlight operation in the same manner as a dry cell or battery of dryl cells. This is an important advantage of the present cell, as it obviates the necessity for the flashlight casings of special construction which areusually required to accommodate storage cells. i

A ring 16, preferably of Celluloid, is fitted in the casing 1 and\ carries a hollow conical member 17, in which a fibrous material 18 is contained. Absorbent pads 19 are placed above the fibrous material. The construction just described forms a combined acid trap, vapor arrester, and absorption device. The chamber 20 about the smaller end of cone 17 operates as an acid trap and has sufficient capacity to receive any acid which may escape by gravity Vflow from the absor ent. .'Thefibrous-Inaterial 18 is refer? ably oiled glass wool, which effectual y prevents the passage of moisture entrained by gases passing `from the cell to vent 21 in cap '15. The pads 19v may be saturated with proper reagents to render the gases harmless. The combination of acid trap, vapor arrester Aand absorbent means, described is not claimed herein, as this construction forms part of the subject matterclaimed in e ectrodeassembly adapted for refilling the casing is illustrated in Fig. 2. The new assemblyis inserted in the casing and the replacing the glass wool, pads, and cap. The

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closure screwed in until a tight joint is made'l by compression of gasket 12. The cap 15,

pads 19, and glass wool18, are then removed, and the proper amount of acid is poured in through cone 17. The cellmay be charged in the usual maliner, either before or after tubes 5 and 6 receive the terminals ofthe charging circuit. 4 f

- The electrode assembly may be wrapped in a suitable material 33, such as paper,'to prevent loss of the electrolyte absorbent 9. The assembly may be made of such size 'asto slip easily into the casing, On addii tion ofelectrolyte, absorbents of the type described swell to a considerable extent, in-

suring the complete filling of the casing and making'good contact with the electrodes.

, Properlyl constructed storage cell casings are relatively expensive and appreciable loss is involved by discarding the casing when the current-producing elements become Aunserviceable. Heretofore electrodes have been: banded together to form a removable unitary structure for immersion in a jar or the like 4'containing electrolyte, but such devices are inapplicable to cells of the type referred to herein. So'far as I am aware, noflashlight storage cell having a readily renewable electrode assembly had been proposedprior to my invention. As described herein, a unitary construction is provided whereby the user of the cell may replace both the electrodes and the absorbent in a simple and convenient manner.

In order to prevent charging of the cell while the electrolyte chamber Ais elevated with respect to the absorbent pads, I' provide an end cap construction such as shown in Fig. 3. The device there illustrated is the same as -that of Fig. 1, except that a rounded cap 26 is provided. It is laccordingly impossible to stand the cell ,en the end containing the absorbent, and charging while the cell occupies that position is ordinarily prevented. The downflow of acid:

from theelectrolyte absorbent during charge may be suiiicient to destroy the effectiveness of the gas absorbent, and it is therefore important'to insure that the cell shall be correctly positioned at this time. The rounded contour of the cap will notinterfere with the use of the cell in flashlight operation.

In Fig, 4 is shown an auxiliary cap for use with cells of the type described, or with iotlhiker suitable cells. This cap consists of a ring 27, having a pressufit with the smooth upper portion of ferrule 2, and. an insulating top 28 in which binding posts 29 and 30 are set. Resilient metallic members 31 and,3 2 are secured to the bottoms of the binding posts 29 and 30, respectively, and

engage tubes 5 and 6. When the flashlight cell is desired for other uses, the auxiliary cap may be aiiixed and the binding posts utilized in .the usual way.

The advantages of the invention are not dependent upon the specific constructions illustrated, and various changes "in such constructions may be made within the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim 1. A storage cell comprising a casing, means at one end of the casing for absorbing harmful gases, an electrode and electrolyte absorbent assembly positioned in the opposite end' of the casing and fitting snugly within the same, and means lwhereby said assembly may be removed as a unit from said casing.

2. 7A flashlight storage cell comprising a or casing, means at one end of the .casing absorbing harmful gases, a' closure for the opposite end of the casing, an electrode and electrolyte absorbent assembly fitting snugly within the casing, said assembly being carried by said closure and removable as a unit therewith.- y

3. A storage cell comprising a casing, means for absorbing harmful gases,

sitioned within and snugly fitting the casing,

, and means whereby said assembly may be removed as a unit from said casing and the rest of the cell.

4. A flashlight storage cell comprising a casing, means for absorbing harmful gases,

ent assembly positioned within and snugly fittingy the casing and removable as a unit therefrom, means for absorbing harmful gases adjacent one end of the casing, a removable closure for one end of the casing adapted to be engaged by the inner terminal an electrode and electrolyte absorbent assembly poof a lamp bulb, a removablev closure for the other end of the casing carrying a second contact member, and means for placing the contact members in v electrical connection with cell electrodes of opposite polarity.

6. A storage cell for` actuation .of flashlights and other purposes, comprising a casing, electrodes and electrolyte in operative relation therein, conductive means in electrical connection with the electrodes and adapted for use in cooperation with the electrical circuit of a flashlight, and an auxiliary cap adapted to t onto the end of the casing and carrying binding posts connectible with the electrodes, whereby the cell is fitted for general use when the auxiliary cap is placed thereon.

7 An assembly for renewal of the currentproducing elements of a storage cell, comprising a closure for one end of the cell, contact members in the closure, electrodes carried by the closure and electrically connected to the contact members, an .electrolyte absorbentl about the electrodes, and means for .retaining the, absorbent, said assembly 'being adapted to be inserted in and withdrawn from the cell as a unit.

In testimony whereof, I alix my slgnature.

RAYMOND C. BENNER. 

